Burial apparatus



No. 624,905. Patented May l6, I899. .1. L. aovn.

BUBIAL APPARATUS".

(Application fllafi. May 7, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 624,905. 1 Patented May l6, I899. J. L. BOYD.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 7, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shut 2.

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NITED STATES,

JAMES L. BOYD, OF LA PORTE, INDIANA.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,905, dated May 16,1899. Application filed May 7, 1898. $erial No. 680,010. (No modeld T000% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. BOYD, a citizen of the United States,residingin La Porte, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Under-takers BurialApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of apparatus for undertakersuse in lowering caskets into the graves.

My object therein has been to provide a very light and portable form ofapparatus which can be carried in the hearse or other vehicle and beerected and put in operative condition at the grave in a very short timeand as quickly taken down and removed.

The invention consists in the novel construction of the apparatus and inthe novel construction and combinations of devices and parts of deviceshereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2an end elevation, of the apparatus as it appears when erected and readyto be put into service. Fig. 3 shows the apparatus with the struts orlegs folded. Fig. 4.- is a partial longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is across-section. Fig. 6 isadetail sectional view of the hook forattachingthe ends of the straps placed around the casket. Figs. 7 and 8 aredetails of a modification.

In said drawings, A represents'a casket or the usual box in which thesame is placed ready to be lowered by the apparatus, B B being theleather or canvas straps usually passed under the box or casket. One endof each strap is provided with a loop 13', and the other endis securelyheld by a buckle B attached to the end of the Windlass-rope O.

The main feature of my apparatus consists of an exceedingly portableWindlass adapted to be readily erected at the grave and readily removed,and it preferably consists of a windlass composed of sections D of metalpipe suitably united together-as, for instance, by a coupling-sleeve Dand folding legs or sup ports E E, such supports having sleeves E, inwhich the Windlass may be revolved. At least one, and possibly both, ofthe sleeves E may be adjustable upon the Windlass, so that at least onepair of the legs may be moved toward or from the other pair to adapt theapparatus to use with caskets of different lengths. The Windlass-ropesare each secured to rings 0, made fast to the Windlass by set-, screws Cor other suitable devices, and for the purpose of making the apparatusadj ustable to different lengths one or both of these rings arepreferably made adjustable to different points along the Windlass.

The coupling-sleeve D is made fast to one section of the Windlass bybrazing or otherwise and splined to the other, as shown at D and theset-screw D serves to prevent the splined section from pulling out ofthe sleeve. Of course it will be understood that the Windlass may bemade in one piece instead of two; but that would render it unhandy tocarry about,'and hence I prefer the sectional Windlass.

The legs E are all pivoted upon pivots E supported in a swinging head Epivoted to a projection E depending from the sleeve E, by means of thepivot E this being the construction employed for the legs at each end ofthe Windlass, and it permits each pair of the legs to be folded closelytogether and then swung into position parallel with the Windlass, asseen at Fig. 3.

At one or both ends an operating devicesuch, for instance, as thehand-wheel F--is applied to the Windlass, and by means thereof theWindlass may be turned to liftthe casket sufficiently to permit theremoval of the crosspieces, which are laid across the grave and supportthe casket, and then serve as a means for controlling the Windlass whilethe casket is being lowered. Instead of the hand-wheel one end of theWindlass may be provided with gearing, such as that shown at Figs. 7 and8, whereby to operate and control it. This gearing may consist of thegear G, secured to one end of the Windlass, and a small gear G, meshingwith gear G and having bearings in the side of the inclosing case G andbeing operated bya crank or hand wheel G attached to its shaft. Ifdesired, a brakingstrap G passing around the hub of the gear IOO ingupon the ground at each side of the grave. These legs are preferablyhinged to heads H so they may be folded together, and said heads areattached to the bearing in any suitable way, either detachably orpermanently, as preferred.

It is desirable that the straps B should be secured together at theirends in such manner as to insure their being automatically disengaged assoon as the casket is lowered. For this purpose I pass the end which isattached to the buckle, as already stated, through a forked or two-armedhook B having a cross-bar or hearing surface at 13, against which thestrap may frictionally bear, and a rearwardly-extendin g weight B Thepoints of this hook engage the loop B, as seen at Fig. 6, and retain thehook in engagement so long as there is any strain upon the strap; butwhen the casket has been lowered and rests upon the bottom of the grave,so that there is no strain, the weighted end will fall to the positiongiven in the broken lines, and such change in position allows theautomatic disengagement of the hook and loop, so that the strap may thenbe drawn out by winding up the Windlass.

In use the apparatus is placed over the easket and parallel therewith,as plainly illustrated. The legs H brace the Windlass in longitudinaldirections, as is obvious, though this may not be necessary if the legsE are inclined slightly in proper directions. If desired, the sleeves Eand operating-wheels may be removable from the Windlass to facilitatepacking of the apparatus in a small compass for carrying.

Instead of employing the spline D and setscrew D for securing the end ofthe Windlasssection D in the sleeve D a key D may be employed. This keyshould pass through both the sleeve and the Windlass-section, and Iprefer to make it long enough so that it may be secured in the openingthrough which it passes at both ends by the strap B 01 equivalentdevice, which will prevent it from falling out while in use.

The legs E of the Windlass-supports are preferably armed at the bottomwith sharp points E, as shown at Fig. 3, to prevent them from slipping.

I claim-- 1. The combination with the Windlass, of sleeves E surroundingthe Windlass, and legs E pivoted to fold together and also to swing intoposition parallel to the Windlass, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the Windlass, of a sleeve E surrounding theWindlass at one end and adjustable along the same, legs attached to saidsleeve, and suitable supports for the other end of the Windlass,substantially as specified.

3. The combination in burial apparatus of the Windlass, supporting-legs,and a bearing for the Windlass, the supporting-legs being pivoted to thehearing so as to fold into position parallel to the Windlass,substantially as specified.

4. The burial apparatus consisting of a Windlass made in separableparts, supports for each end thereof, and bearings carried by thesupports, the supports being pivotally attached to said bearings so asto fold with the Windlass, substantially as specified.

JAMES L. BOYD.

